I want
to clear the earth of base people.'"
"Really? That's clever!"
"He's a terrible man! How many wild pranks he has perpetrated
during these years! How much money he has squandered!"
"And, tell me, on what conditions does father manage his affairs
for him? Do you know?"
"No, I don't. He has a full power of attorney. Why do you ask?"
"Simply so. It's a solid business. Of course it is conducted in
purely Russian fashion; in other words, it is conducted
abominably. But it is a splendid business, nevertheless. If it
were managed properly it would be a most profitable gold mine."
"Foma does absolutely nothing. Everything is in father's hands."
"Yes? That's fine."
"Do you know, sometimes it occurs to me that his thoughtful frame
of mind--that these words of his are sincere, and that he can be
very decent. But I cannot reconcile his scandalous life with his
words and arguments. I cannot do it under any circumstances!"
"It isn't even worthwhile to bother about it. The stripling and
lazy bones seeks to justify his laziness.
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